The issue is complicated by the fact that much of the right faction is opposed to changing the Act, but at the same time some key supporters of allowing same-sex marriage are from the right.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's lieutenants are hoping to ensure she does not suffer any embarrassment by marshalling the numbers for the issue to be treated as a matter of conscience if it comes up in Federal Parliament.

ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr, from the party's right faction, plans to move an amendment seconded by Finance Minister Penny Wong, which will say that all couples should have equal access to marriage.

The right has not finalised its position but wants the promise of a conscience vote tied to any move to change the party platform on gay marriage.

NSW Leader John Robertson says he does not believe his party colleagues should be compelled to vote for same-sex marriage, even though he supports it himself.

The Greens are urging ALP members to push for a change in policy, rather than a conscience vote.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says rethinking party policy to get rid of discrimination is just common sense.

"The Greens really want to see the Labor party catch up with mainstream Australia, catch up with the Greens, and endorse marriage equality," she said.

"It's time we removed the discrimination from the Marriage Act to give same-sex couples the same rights of everyone else to marry the people that they love."

Disability announcement

Ms Gillard began today by highlighting Labor's commitment to a national disability insurance scheme, which will be added to Labor's party platform today.

She met people with a disability and their families at a breakfast event at the Sydney Aquarium, and announced a new agency to oversee the development of the scheme.

Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten says the announcement makes sense.

"When you build a giant road you've got to put together the authority who's going to oversight the building of the road and this is a road to equality for people with a disability and their carers," he said.

Yesterday, the conference agreed to a series of changes such as extending workers' bargaining rights and access to arbitration in industrial disputes.

But the Federal Government has refused to commit to any changes to workplace laws after unions used their power to amend Labor's policy.

Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans says he is waiting for a review into the Fair Work Act before settling on changes.

"Many of them are technical amendments to encourage the Government to go down the path of actually making changes to the Fair Work Act," he said.

"But the Government will be having a review of the Fair Work Act and unions and employers will get a chance to provide evidence-based submissions before the Government considers what sort of legislative changes we might make.

"Obviously the policy will help guide us in responding to those things but unions understand that that review will be one based on evidence, it will be independent and the Government will make decisions after that."